HIGHLIGHTS

India stayed on course for their SAFF Cup defence at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday as Manvir Singh stepped up to get a brace and helped India beat Pakistan 3-1 on Wednesday.

Despite a goalless first half, Manvir soon turned the game on its head with his first goal in the 49th minutes. 20 minutes later, he doubled India's lead only for substitute Sumeet Passi to come later and seal the match for India in the 83rd minute.

Pakistan only got a consolation goal when Hassan Bashir scored their only goal of the match in the 88th minute.

In the final on Saturday, India will take on Maldives, who outclassed Nepal 3-0 in the first semi-final.

India's first goal came off a brilliant counter-attack. Ashique Kuruniyan, relying on his signature pace, ran past everyone down the left and unleashed a low cross which was Manvir made the best of to set India's foot in the match.

The next goal took 20 minutes to come but was surely worth the wait. Delhi Dynamos youngster Lalliazuala Chhangte, who replaced Nikhil Poojary in the 68th minute, made an immediate impact as India doubled the lead.

The super-sub made a blistering run down the middle of the pitch, sidestepped two defenders and passed it to his club teammate Vinit Rai. The midfielder on the turn rolled it to Manvir who blasted it home from top of the box.

After the clock struck 80, Manvir was subjected to a challenge following which coach Stephen Constantine brought in Sumeet Passi.

The former AIFF Academy cadet took less than a minute to join the party and found the target in the 83rd minute. Ashique, the architect of the first goal, made an identical run down the flank to deliver the ball to Passi, who headed home clinically.

However, India received a blow as Chhangte was given marching orders for an off the ball offence on Mohsin Ali. Mohsin was also red-carded for his challenge.

Earlier, India had the first opportunity of the game in the 10th minute itself but that time Manvir was unable to connect with Ashique's perfect cross.

Seasoned Pakistan goalkeeper Yusuf Butt also came up with some wonderful saves to keep the Indians at bay in the first-half - the most notable of which was his save to deny Subhashish Bose's volley off an Anirudh Thapa corner.

India survived a scare in the 39th minute when Pakistan earned an indirect free-kick at the edge of the six-yard box but goalkeeper Vishal Kaith came up with back-to-back saves to deny Pakistan.